Christian Universalism- The Beautiful Heresy

URGENT- If you want to continue to read The Beautiful Heresy

2008-11-26T17:48:08-05:00

If you want to continue to read my blog, please make sure to change your bookmark or redirect your feed to my new home on Blogger. I've been slowly moving all my posts from here over there and this blog will literally cease to exist in a matter of days or weeks. I hope to see you there. BTW, if you wondered why I haven't been posting recently, I have... over there.My new home: http://www.thebeautifulheresy.com

The Blog Has Left the Building

2008-10-24T14:11:59-04:00

If you're wondering why I haven't updated this blog in a while, it's because it is a lame duck blog. Based on the cost and the functionality, I will be moving to the Blogger platform where I have already begun posting. It's here: The Beautiful Heresy. After mentioning that I was moving, I did get a comment from someone at TypePad who seemed to care. But, she did not follow up. I also got an invitation to join TypePad's beta team. But, I submitted an application and did not hear back from them. I will be moving the old posts...

Allow me to introduce Pastor Mike...

2008-09-15T17:47:28-04:00

We think we're nearing the end of the road in the search for a pastor for Nexus church. I'm more of a deist when it comes to G-d intervening in human affairs, although I do believe in the power of prayer (more on that later if you'd like). Anyway, if I used such language, I would say that our search has been a "God thing" as they'd say at the Vineyard. We have selected a final candidate who will be leading our service this coming Sunday. The search committee has worked so well together it's been truly amazing. We have...

Hold On Change is Comin'

2008-09-15T14:47:59-04:00

When I get in a funk (like I've been in lately), this song always lifts my spirits. Unfortunately, YouTube has disabled embedding, so you'll have to link to their site to link. This is a remake. The original rocks with a huge gospel choir. But, this version is pretty good.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlBvVbhDpRA

The Blog Is Moving

2008-09-09T15:58:39-04:00

Please join me at my new home at Blogger. This blog will be here for a couple of more months as I (manually) move posts over and try to keep some discussions going. But, I'll be making new posts both places for a while and eventually just at the new place.http://www.thebeautifulheresy.com (ah, much easier to remember) will be the new home.

Abortion- My View

2008-09-09T15:42:28-04:00

Never one to back away from a controversial topic, I thought I'd throw this into the political discussion. For the last several days, I've been debating this topic with people on a message board. Here is a summary of my view.For me, the abortion discussion we've been having has gotten way too technical. I'm not a medical ethicist. As Obama said (to great criticism) the question of exactly when life begins is above my pay grade. I look at it this way.One can say life begins at conception. That is a clear defining moment. It's extreme. But, it's clear. If...

Do you find this funny?

2008-09-06T17:29:43-04:00

The Daily Show is supposed to be humorous. Do you find this funny?

American Savior- Book Review

2008-09-05T15:12:14-04:00

I picked up American Savior by Roland Merullo on a whim. Call it a divine appointment if you will. Just a few days before Amazon served it up to me as something I might like, I was bemoaning our current political atmosphere and made the comment "Jesus Himself couldn't get elected in America". Lo and behold, then Roland Merullo's novel comes along. I had to read it. Of course it's an unlikely story. Those critical of the book saying Jesus would never run for office remind me of people who don't get a the joke "A duck walks into a...

Matthew 25 Ministries

2008-09-05T08:20:45-04:00

I love Matthew 25 Ministries. As a Christian organization, they are about living their faith- they work to feed people, provide health care, free sex slaves, etc. They are also calling on Christian leaders (especially those wearing their faith on their sleeves) to stand up to the ideals of Christianity. I received this petition in my in-box this morning and wanted to share it with you. It's a reaction to Governor Palin's speech (which in her defense she did not write). http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5167/t/3594/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=447

I thought it was 2008- it's really 1984

2008-09-04T08:22:19-04:00

Sorry. I know my blog is getting too political. But, I have to vent/rant. I found myself talking to the TV again last night. Good thing the rest of the family had gone to bed. I tried to watch the RNC and I did get through a lot of it. But, I also watched a lot of America's Next Top Model. I promise. This will be my last political post- this week. No matter what John McCain says tonight, I will not post about it.First, I know both sides lie. Both sides exaggerate. Both sides vilify each other. And, I...

Buh-Bye TypePad- Why Blogger is Better than TypePad

2008-09-03T13:58:45-04:00

I am in the process of moving my blog (back) to Blogger. I switched to TypePad a couple of years ago for the ability to customize things more. I pay for TypePad (as much as I would for a full blown hosted website) and I'm not getting my money's worth. In the years since TypePad has not gotten any much better and Blogger has improved tremendously. Considering I pay TypePad, I am appalled that I cannot call them or contact them directly for any type of support (everything is done through a "ticket"). TypePad cannot remember who people are when...

Is Obama "Experienced" Enough to be President?

2008-09-03T08:39:43-04:00

Experience- seems to be a recurring theme in this Presidential election cycle. What experience is relevant? No one's been President before. And there really isn't any other job like it. Being Governor is not the same as being President. Being a CEO is not the same as being President. It's probably the toughest and most unique job in the world. So, the experience factor is always subjective. But, surely we can make some judgment as to whether the life experience a candidate has had might be helpful.The Sarah Palin nomination has been fascinating. While Democrats and Independents struggle to figure...

My King

2008-09-02T10:47:56-04:00

Yesterday, Annie and I were talking about G-d (nothing new) and about the election (again nothing new). Annie and others on the board are comfortable enough with the sovreignty of G-d to say whoever is elected will be G-d's choice (I paraphrase). I don't see it that way. Annie further explained her position and in doing so made the comment that no matter who wins G-d will still be on his throne.That language doesn't really work for me anymore, the king language. I know it's used quite extensively in the Bible because a monarchy is the only form of government...

Should you vote for Obama or McCain?

2008-09-02T08:05:39-04:00

Kansas Bob posted a link to this poll. It was difficult to force myself to answer honestly instead of just picking Obama's position on an issue. But, I think I did. It's a pretty good poll, especially if you are an undecided. Of course, it assumes you weigh all issues equally (which you probably do not). And, for me, some of the answers are not black and white. For example: "Did the troop surge work in Iraq?". Yes. But, it doesn't count as "successful" because it was the wrong war in the first place. "Do you think the prospects are...

Let's Show Some Compassion

2008-09-01T12:50:27-04:00

OMG! Seriously? Over the weekend, I was reading this garbage saying that Sarah Palin was really the grandmother of Trig and that she did it to cover up her daughter Bristol's pregnancy. I was disgusted by the venom of some of the left wing blogs (that I have to admit I to read) and the comments coming from some Obama supporters. This is not the type of politics Barack Obama plays and I was happy to see the restraint showed by some and the exhortations for the others in our group to knock it off. Then, I see that the...

Sarah Who?

2008-08-30T08:46:53-04:00

Someone made the mistake of saying they were curious to hear my thoughts on McCain's VP pick. So, here you go. Let me begin by saying I know nothing about Sarah Palin that I didn't learn in the last 22 hours. And, I mean that literally. I had never heard her name until yesterday. So, I was stunned by the pick. McCain had a plethora of qualified men to choose from. But, let's say he wanted to go with a woman. Why not Carly Fiorina or Kay Bailey Hutchinson? This pick seemed right out of left field. My research uncovered...

Democratic National Convention- Score! (and the best line)

2008-08-29T08:50:28-04:00

Will the Democrats finally get it right this election cycle? If the Democratic National Convention is any indication, I'm allowing myself (just a little) to think that this time they will not snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. The convention could have hardly gone any better. From the truly inspirational speeches by Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden to the (risky) open air performance at Mile High Stadium (I refuse to call it Invesco Field) to Barack's "meaty" and pointed accepted speech last night, they showed they just may have figured some things out.I wrote...

Nexus Search Committee Update

2008-08-27T14:02:32-04:00

This is a fine line to walk. We have to maintain confidentiality about the identity of the candidates in the search process. But, we all agreed that we want to disclose as much as possible about what is going on to the full church. So, with that in mind, I want to update you on what has happened over the last couple of weeks. Last week we narrowed the candidates down to two. A man and a woman. We scheduled a conference call with each of them. The calls took place last night. After reviewing their profiles, we were very...

The Lord's Prayer- like you've never heard it

2008-08-26T11:21:03-04:00

This morning we were discussing why it is that G-d seems so distant to many of us. One of the quotes that popped up on my "Quote of the Day" was:They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse. - Emily DickinsonOne of the guys on the list asked why is we think of G-d that way and what immediately popped into my mind was the opening line of the Lord's Prayer: Our Father who are in HeavenIn heaven... out there somewhere, not here. This is the G-d I was taught...

Politics as usual

2008-08-25T07:52:46-04:00

Once again, the charge of naivete against me has stuck. When I saw that John McCain was going to get the nomination from the Republicans, I hoped and believed that, if Barack Obama got the nod from the Dems we'd see a historic campaign. One in which no mud-slinging would take place, just two gentlemen duking it out on the merits. Boy was I wrong! IMO, McCain went low first and is continuing to go low often. Not only with low blows but with silliness like the celebrity ads. Then, we have the absolute falseness of the Rezko and the...